SOME 36 years of dedicated service at Norton College by its caretaker, Melvyn Walton, were rewarded at the weekend when he was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

When Melvyn, 57, goes to Buckingham Palace later in the year to receive his medal, it will be only the second time he has been to London.

He recalled: “I once went on a day trip as a schoolboy, but I haven’t seen the sights, so that will be a really great experience.”

Delighted staff heaped praise on Melvyn for his devotion to the job.

Head teacher Tony Rawdin said one of the best testimonies to Melvyn’s work had been the recent awarding to the college of a 100 per cent result for its cleanliness.

“He is a fantastic caretaker,” Mr Rawdin added. “We are very grateful to Melvyn for his sterling service. He takes his duties and life at the school very seriously and is so well respected and valued by all staff and students.”

Other staff described him as being “so modest and unassuming”.

Sports teacher Martin Jackson said: “He has given exemplary service to the college.

“He treats the buildings as if they were his own. He takes such pride in his work and is so dedicated.”

It was as a boy that he first helped the then caretaker at the school, where he was himself a pupil in the 1960s when it was Norton County Secondary School.

His role as caretaker also provided him with the love of his life, Margaret, whom he met as a cleaner at the college. The couple have a daughter and son.

Westow-born Melvyn has lived most of his life in Norton and has seen ma ny changes at the college.

“Over the years we have got an art and science block, drama and music block and our splendid Sixth Form College unit, and complex for modern languages and the sports hall,” he said.

In addition to being caretaker, Melvyn turns his hand to animal husbandry, helping to look after the livestock at the college farm.

In his spare time, he can be found enjoying games in the local pub dominoes league at The Unicorn pub.

In his younger days, he was a stalwart of St John Ambulance Brigade, played badminton and ran a youth club.

* MBEs were also awarded to Mark Evans, of Brompton-by-Sawdon, the former High Sheriff of North Yorkshire and retired County Councillor, for his public service, and to David Bridge, retired director of administration at Scarborough Council, who has become a prominent figure in the Christian Aid charity, helping to raise tens of thousands of pounds.